It is no secret, TED Talks save lives. If you don’t believe me check out the following 10 TED Talks I have lined up for you. I am sure at least one of them will not only save your life but will help you start the next decade with some clarity.
1.How changing your story can change your life by Lori Gottlieb
Stories help you make sense of your life — but when these narratives are incomplete or misleading, they can keep you stuck instead of providing clarity. In an actionable talk, psychotherapist and advice columnist Lori Gottlieb shows how to break free from the stories you’ve been telling yourself by becoming your own editor and rewriting your narrative from a different point of view.
2. Get comfortable with being uncomfortable by Luvvie Ajayi
Luvvie Ajayi isn’t afraid to speak her mind or to be the one dissenting voice in a crowd, and neither should you. “Your silence serves no one,” says the writer, activist and self-proclaimed professional troublemaker. In this bright, uplifting talk, Ajayi shares three questions to ask yourself if you’re teetering on the edge of speaking up or quieting down — and encourages all of us to get a little more comfortable with being uncomfortable.
3. How to make stress your friend by Kelly McGonigal
Stress. It makes your heart pound, your breathing quicken and your forehead sweat. But while stress has been made into a public health enemy, new research suggests that stress may only be bad for you if you believe that to be the case. Psychologist Kelly McGonigal urges us to see stress as a positive, and introduces us to an unsung mechanism for stress reduction: reaching out to others.
4.Inside the mind of a master procrastinator by Tim Urban
Tim Urban knows that procrastination doesn’t make sense, but he’s never been able to shake his habit of waiting until the last minute to get things done. In this hilarious and insightful talk, Urban takes us on a journey through YouTube binges, Wikipedia rabbit holes and bouts of staring out the window — and encourages us to think harder about what we’re really procrastinating on, before we run out of time.
5.What makes a good life? Lessons from the longest study on happiness by Robert Waldinger
What keeps us happy and healthy as we go through life? If you think it’s fame and money, you’re not alone – but, according to psychiatrist Robert Waldinger, you’re mistaken. As the director of 75-year-old study on adult development, Waldinger has unprecedented access to data on true happiness and satisfaction. In this talk, he shares three important lessons learned from the study as well as some practical, old-as-the-hills wisdom on how to build a fulfilling, long life.
6.The 5 People You Need To Be Happy | Stacey Flowers
Everyone wants to be happy, but we often don’t know how to actually achieve it. Having a supportive network helps but here are the 5 specific people that we all need in our lives to be happy.
7. Meet Yourself: A User’s Guide to Building Self-Esteem: By Niko Everett
Niko Everett would like to introduce you to someone she thinks you should know-YOU! As the founder of Girls for Change, Niko has helped many young teens transform their communities and themselves by holding up a powerful mirror. In this engaging talk, Niko will demonstrate how anyone- from boys and girls to grown men and women can get a glimpse into their own transformational looking glass too. Inspirational and empowering.
8.The difference between healthy and unhealthy love by Katie Hood
In a talk about understanding and practicing the art of healthy relationships, Katie Hood reveals the five signs you might be in an unhealthy relationship — with a romantic partner, a friend, a family member — and shares the things you can do every day to love with respect, kindness and joy. “While love is an instinct and an emotion, the ability to love better is a skill we can all build and improve on over time,” she says.
9. The wait is sexy by Yvonne Orji
“You cannot date until you get married.”
Born to strict Nigerian parents, Yvonne determined to get married and intimate at 18.
But her enthusiasm was diminished by her friends’ low expectations of sex.
After getting “bamboozled by Jesus” in college, today Yvonne is a 36 year old virgin. Suddenly her parents want her to meet someone.
Yvonne gives 5 suggestions for finding love – regardless of your beliefs, values and choices. Because when you find the right person, the wait is worth it.
10. Rethinking infidelity…a talk for anyone who has ever loved by Esther Perel
Infidelity is the ultimate betrayal. But does it have to be? Relationship therapist Esther Perel examines why people cheat, and unpacks why affairs are so traumatic: because they threaten our emotional security. In infidelity, she sees something unexpected — an expression of longing and loss. A must-watch for anyone who has ever cheated or been cheated on, or who simply wants a new framework for understanding relationships.